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South Hadley's FestForward to help finance July's FallsFest

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Brianna Jones, right, along with Cynthia Lyon, left, and Michael Corsin, back, members of the group "Eight to the Bar" perform at the FallsFest Music and Arts Festival at the Beachgrounds in South Hadley in this 2013 file photo.
(Republican file photo / Dave Roback)

SOUTH HADLEY – With last year’s successful summer bash under their belt, organizers of the second annual FallsFest are busy preparing to make the upcoming July 26 event even better.

The popular party along the Connecticut River attracted 5,000 last year, with family-themed music, food, entertainment, along with beer and wine for adults. Organizers planned the event in the South Hadley Falls Neighborhood, at the municipal park called Beachgrounds across from Town Hall, as a way to also raise awareness of the neighborhood’s burgeoning potential and rich historical past.

The group has organized a Saturday fund-raiser to defray some of the costs to hire musicians who perform for 10 hours and to pay for various equipment rentals.

The April 5 event, known as FestForward, takes place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the South Hadley Town Hall auditorium.

Carol Constant, a co-organizer for FestForward and the upcoming FallsFest, light-heartedly refers to the Saturday fund-raiser as a pop up party.

Performing Saturday are the Midlife Crisis Band and renowned Jazz pianist Mark Gioddnfrio. He grew up in Holyoke and teaches at Mt. Holyoke College.

The admission cost entitles ticket holders to food provided by the following: Yarde Tavern; Log Rolling Catering; and Four Brothers and a Blonde Market and Deli.

Tickets can be purchased at the South Hadley branches of PeoplesBank, the South Hadley Recreation Department and at The Yarde Tavern in South Hadley. Cost is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Beer and wine will also be sold.